Fluid control and by-pass tool



Y A R G J F..

FLUID CONTROL AND BY-PASS TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1946NVENTOR. d. GRAK [VERA-T1' BY I laf/2.35551155155/1411155 u m ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 10, 1950 E. J. GRAY FLUID coNTRoL AND BYv-PAss TooL Filed Sept. 23,1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. l0, 1950 E. J. GRAY FLUID coNTRoL AND BY-PAss'roofJ 3 Sheets-Shea?l 3 Filed Sept. 23, 1946 a. w 4 m u 4 M nav /IJ mmf N f Z v 5 m m 4 MT J 1 l 2 3 a 8 2 |2 2 n N 1J 7/ 4 w 0 w 7 3INVEN-ToR. EVERETT d. GRAK BY LM www# 0MM/L TToR/vfxs.

Patented Jan. 10, 1950 FLUID CONTROL AND BY-PASS TOOL Everett J. Gray,San Dimas, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignmentavto John B. Hitchings,Long Beach, Calif.

Application September 23, 1946, Serial No. 698,794

This invention relates t0 tools for operation in wells, such as oil orgas wells, having a, tubular liner or casing.

The general object and purpose of this invention is to provide a welltool for operations in and about a packed oi zone in the well casing,such as a perforated zone, wherein a fluid pressure Within the zone maybe desired or wherein a fluid flow into or out of the zone may bedesired, the ow being selectively controlled with respect to a tubularpipe or Stringer to which the tool may be secured, provision being madefor a fluid flow lay-passing one or both of the packers which, togetherwith the casing, form the chamber containing the perforated zonethereof.

The invention contemplates the provision ofv valve means actuatable byappropriate manipulation of the tubing or Stringer to control the iiuidow between the above mentioned chamber and. the by-pass, and also meansfor controlling the fluid flow in the by-pass itself, also actuatable bysuitable manipulation of the tubing or Stringer.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a tool forcontrolling fluid operations i within a well casing which may be loweredinto the casing to a desired position and form a packed oli zone orchamber such that a fluid flow into or out of the chamber, from or to atubing or pipe Stringer system, may be effected and controlled by valvemeans selectively actuated by shifting of the tool longitudinally in awell casing or by the rotation of the tool from its pipe Stringersuspension means.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a well tool adapted to belowered into a well casing from a pipe or tube system and having spacedpackers forming a chamber together with a portion of the well casing, inwhich chamber a uid flow may be provided to or from the tube system orfrom the free uid area external thereto and having by-pass means for thepackers provided with valve means for controlling the flow from theby-pass below the lowermost packer, and valve means for controlling theduid flow between the by-pass and the chamber mentioned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a well tool havingspaced packers adapted to form a compression chamber together with aportion of the Well casing, in which chamber various well treatingoperations, such as cementing, acidizing, testing, or washing, may beperformed without requiring alterations oradjustments in the tool whichusually require removal of the tool from the casing in order to be done.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fullyin the following speciiication considered with reference to theaccompany drawings throughout which like parts are designated by likenumerals.

Inthe drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation view of the tool shown ina well pipe or casing.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the same, partly in Section, showing theby-pass Valve in closed or cementing position. Y Figure 3 is a View ofthe tool while being lowered in the casing and showing the foot valveopen and the by-pass valve closed.

I Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 1 Showing the f oot Valve closedand the by-pass valve in open position for normal circulation.

-, Figure 5 is a partial view similar to Figure 4 showing 'the by-passvalve in open position and the direction of fluid iiow reversed forreverse circulation or back scuttling.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view in sectional elevation showing the by-passvalve structure of Figures 1 to 5.

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged View in section Showing the lost-motion meansinterconnecting the valve rods.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the line Ill-l0 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional elevation view showing the foot valveStructure.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along the line |2-I2 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a view Similar to Figure 7 showing a modified form of theby-pass valve.

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along the line I4-I4 of Figure 13.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I show a well pipe orcasing 20, such as a casing of an oil or gas well, the casing having aplurality of perforations 2l, through which perforations it may bedesired to cause a fluid flow under pressure, such as for cementing,acidizing, testing or washing, the interior of the casing forming anannular pressure chamber or space 22 between packers on the tool of myinvention.

The tool of this invention is shown in connection with and as beingsecured to a coupling 23 ofa drill string. However, in the followingdeend of foot valve stem 3l and frictionally engage- Valve stem 313 issuitably secured to block 58 and extends through a bearing collar 6isecured within the upper end of sleeve 55. By this construction, valve46 may be shifted between closed position against valve seat t and openposition, as shown in Figure 7, by manipulation of the drillstringltomovethe valve sleeve 25, the valve stems 3U andlatlfnormallybeingy heldagainst vertical movement relative to `the'casin"g 2G bybelly springs 32, as will be apparent to those skilled in' the art.

the inner wall of casing '2D to retard tlieimoveA ment of the valvestems during the movements of the tool into and out cfA ,the` well,andfc'n'fry opening or closing the valveswherr desired? A pair ofpacking cups 33 and 34 are suitably secured on upper mandrel dandsimilarfpack EootivalveZS isfshown in elevation in Figures l land 2, andin section in Figures 3, 4 and l1, and:` comprises 'a'v member 62 havinga threaded ing cups and 36 are secured on lower mandrel f 26, packingcups 33 and35 facing upwardly and cups 34 and 36 facing downwardly,whereby to prov-idepressure thereabove or therebelow" or= between cups35 and 35 to constitute pressure chamber 22, already referred to'.

Al by-pass pipe-=33 is suitablyA securedfinupper mandrel-'2E`and'has-a=closed upperV end, aporti @being provided near the @upperend-in registryfv with an opening in the'side wall of'mandrelvli Thelower end of pipe 38 is open-andv communicatesiw-ith the interior-"ofmandrelZft belowy a llet or plug llli which closes oftr` thebore ofmandrel 21S' adjacent and' below'aV pluralityl of ports 421m the wall of'the mandrel. y

A valve body comprisingin parta-valvesleeve 25* is provided' with aninsert or valve-structure 43,-' Fig; '7; which is suitably securedlthereineinV any suitable manner, such asby pressed t; Weld'- ing, orotherwise,l and has aA valvafpas'sagevor vertical bore 4i! and adiarnetrically`- arranged pair of ports or passages lfwhichregistenwithopenings a in the wall'of sleeve-V25'.A A bypass valve It# is'suitably secured, as by lock nutVV 48; on-valvelstem 33 andpositionedinbore-M. A valve seating ring is secured" in* tliei upperportion of bore 44 and is= held by a suitable threaded sleeve 5i, orotherwise:` The valve structure is=such that a by-passv4 passageway' isprovidedand indicatedby the numeral 52; and includes the spaces orpassages 25awithin1valve sleevev 25"` external to insert 43 (see Figure8), by-pass pipe 38v and its corresponding byepass passage V-or duct,port 4B, and the bore orfpassage oflower mandrel' 26, togetherwith-vpassages :.65 inthe foot valve structure, to be described more fully`hereinafter. Y y i Y A packing gland 53 is suitably provided for valvestem 33? (Figure 7) and mayv bevv ofi: any conventional construction.When valve 46?- is closed againstv seat 50, a by-pass connectionis thusprovided between the-free fluidarea above packer 33 andthe Huid areabelow'packer36 when the foot valve 28' is open in the'marinergto'be--presently described. i Thus chamber 2-2; may be maintained underpressure, the pressure being controlled by the uid in upper mandrel 24"-and drillstring- 23.- When valve 4611s open'la'l communication isprovided between pressurechamberl 22: and the by-pass-passage 52.` v yvA couplingv 5'4 is suitably secured, as byf-f a threadedconnection orotherwise, to the: upper end of foot valve stem 3i, and a sleeve' 55?may beI similarly secured to coupling 547. The sleeve 55 has a pair'ofdiametrically disposed'slotsrand;.1a slidev block 58 is reciprocablyvdisposed Within: theY sleeve4 and secures a pin E0' V'wliczh extendslthrough the' blockfandinto siot'sf5 i connection;withn lower mandrel 23,and a sleeve member' 63 having arbore 3 through which areduced'diametergportion of member 52 extends. Aplurality of ports orpassages 35 are provided in member 62 and extend from the interior tothe exterior thereof` adjacent an annular shouldered end 3B fof' sleevememberl 63", such that when lmembers=62fand-3 are in'clcse engagement;as shown in Figures 4 and ll, passages 35 are'closed, the passages`being opened when thesefmembersare in extended position, as shown inFigure 32Y The by-pass passage '52, mentioned' above,fincludes passages65 when open as mentioned.

packing gland G3 of anyl'conventional'construction is` provided for footvalve stem-v 3l and a stop collar il! is secured on'lstein S-l'toyprevent valve '45 from hammer action against thevsleeveofpacking'gland53 when the valvel is shifted to* operil position, aslshown in Figures-4r, 5` and'7; Sleeve member 63 is forme'dfwith internalthreads` li, and member iisvformed` with'complementary external threadsi2, and-a stop abutment 12a which is adapted'to engage alpin 'iwhiclifex'u tends,kv radially inwardly into the-bore of sleeve 63E. This pinandstop yprevent freezing of? the f engagement or vthreads llV and i2at thelimit of the'movernent ofthe member 52 'upwardly when ports B5 areAopened.

Member 63 has a bore portionV below threads- 'Hf anda pair'of pins'itextehd inwardly therein for engagement'y with a pair of slots i5formed in afcollar-'ii securedto foot valve stem 3 l, where'- by sleevemember 53 may -be held againstrotation when it isv desired to' rotatethe drill' string to raise or lower footjvalve member SZ'to open orBy-pas'sy valve fief may be shifted between open and closed position byraising or loweringfthe drill" string 23,-ther movement of thevalveM:`being retarded'bythe rriction'al engagement be'-v tweenbell'y springs;32 'and the4 casing 29' accordingjto-well understood practice. The footvalve 28may beopened and clcsediinthe following lmanner.l Thedrill-string 23 Yis lowered and ro tated' a sufficient amount for'pins'ill tov enter slots 'l5-of collar 'T13l and,upon furtherrotationofithe"strin'glefhhandedlmmember 82 will be moved upwardly with respectto member'63`until stopabutment 12a engages* pin 'i3' limiting thismovement, whereupon the lower end of passage 65fwill'beseparated orAspaced from shoulder 68- and thus the bypa`ss 'passage 52 *will* beopened' from the free fluid area above packer 33 to the fluid area belowpackertt., The foot' valve'28 may be vactuated tovclosed position byreversing these steps' asV shouldr be obvious. The byepass valve 46may-be operatedbetween closed andopen positions while the'iootvalve iseither open or closedi Y In Fi'g1'1res'-13Y and-14, If show a modiedform offbypass4 vali/estructura Inthese iigures; I

show a valve sleeve |25 positioned and secured between mandrels 24 and26 and having a valve body |43 securedV therein, the valve body having abore |44 and a laterally disposed bore |45 which registers with anopening |45a in the wall of sleeve |25. Opening |45a may be somewhatlarger than opening |45, whereby valve body |43 may be secured as byVwelding |25a to valve sleeve |25. The remainder of the valve structure,including the valve rod 3U, valve 46, seat 50 and packing gland 53, isthe same as that shown in Figures l to 8. An enlarged by-pass passage 52is thus provided within valve sleeve |25 and a more eilicient fluid flowis provided by this form of bypass valve structure.

In Figure '7 I show an optional check valve feature which comprises aball vavle 46a adapted to seat on the upper end of valve sleeve 5| VandVadapted to be unseated by the upper end of valve stem 35 when in araised position. For certain uses it may be desirable to permit a flowfrom chamber 22 through passage 45 (or passage |45) and thence upwardlythrough by-pass pipe 38 and into the free uid area above packer 33 witha reverse ow checked by ball valve 46a.

In the operation of the invention the tool is lowered in the valvecasing 2D to the desired position so as to provide pressure chamber 22which may be for a cementing operation, such as cementing perforations2|. lowering movement o f the tool in the well casing, the'valve stems30 and 3| will, because of the drag of belly springs 32,-cause valve 46to be seated against valve seat 5|) and string 23 will maintain anyfluid therein, such as acid or cement, which fluid can, by suitableincrease in pressure in the string,'be forced into and through theperforations 2|. Y Y

If it is desired to Wash out this iiuid, valve 4S may be opened and, bycontinued pressure, this uid may be forced upwardly through bypass pipe38 'and the free iluid area in casing 23 above packer 33, as shown inFigure 4. If a reverse now or back scuttling operation is desired, sucha ow can be provided as indicated by the arrows in Figure 5. Foot valve28 may be kept closed during these operations, whereby the fluid in thearea below packer 36 is kept from mixing with the fluids in string 23and chamber 22, as will be apparent.

When lowering the tool into the well or raising it, and a fluid ismaintained in the casing through which the tool must be passed, thebypass 28 may be opened and the by-pass passage 52 will permit the toolto be so moved without resistance Yfrom the fluid column in the casing,the' position for the vvalves being as shown in Figure 3. 7 y AlthoughlIl have herein shown and described my invention'in -what I haveconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of myinvention, which is not to be limited to the vdetails disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices and systems.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and'desire' to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A fluid control tool for a well casing, comprising: 'a pair oftubular mandrels; a valve body including a housing disposed between andconnected with said mandrels and having a valve passage;y a valve seatintermediatethe ends of said valve passage;'a'va1ve member cooperableDuring the normal 'with said valve seat adapted to open and 'close'ysaid valve passage; means for moving said valve member relative to saidvalve seat; packers on the respective mandrels cooperable with a wellcasing to provide a space forming an annular chamber therebetweensurrounding said valve housing; means in said tool establishingcommunication between the interior of one of said mandrels and saidvalve passage on one side of said valve seat and the exterior of saidone mandrel at the side of the packer thereon remote from said annularchamber; the other of said mandrels having a passage opening into and indirectcommunication with said annular chamber; and a by-pass duct insaid other mandrel in communication with said valve passage on said oneside of said valve seat and also communicating with the exterior of saidother mandrel at the side of the packer thereon remote from said annularchamber, said valve housing having a port establishing communicationbetween said valve passage and said annular chamber on the side of saidvalve seat remote from said by-pass duct.

2. A fluid control tool for a well casing, comprising: a pair of tubularmandrels; a valve body including a housing disposed between andconnected with said mandrels and having a valve passage; a valve seatintermediate the ends of said valve passage; av valve member cooperablewith said valve seat adapted to open and close said valve passage; meansfor moving said valve member relative to said valve seat; packers on therespective mandrels cooperable with a well casing to provide a spaceforming an annular chamber therebetween surrounding-said valve housing;passage means in said housing estab-- lishing communication between theinterior of one of said mandrels and said valve passage on one side ofsaid valve seat; valve means for establishing and interruptingcommunication between said interior Yand the exterior of said onemandrel at the side of the packer thereon remote from said annularchamber; means for actuating said valve means, the other of saidmandrels having a passage opening into and in direct communication withsaid annular chamber; and a by-pass duct in said other mandrel incommunication with said valve passage on said one side of said valveseat and also communicating With the exterior of said other mandrel atthe side of the packer thereon remote from said annular space, saidvalve housing having a port establishing communication between saidvalve passage and said annular space on the side of said valve seatremote from said by-pass duct.

3.` A fluid control tool for a well casing, comprising: a pair oftubular mandrels; a valve body including a housing disposedbetween andconnected with said mandrels and having a valve:

the packer thereon remote from said annular chamber; the other of saidmandrels rhaving apassage opening into and in directcommunication'with'said annular chamber; a by-pass duct encarna in]saidz other mandrel communication with' `sadl'valve passage on said oneside'loi'jsaidvalve.

seat andv also. communicating with the exterior:

of'. said other mandrel. at the side of the packer thereon remote fromsaidiannular chamber, said valve housing having. a port establishingycommunication between said valve passage and said annular chamber on theside ofv said valve seat remote from said-by-pass duct; and stemmeansconnected Vwith said valve. member. extending to. a positionexteriorlyof saidtool adapted to frictionally contact with the interior. of thewell. casing, said stem means being operative upon reiative movementbetweenv said tool and well.`

casing toy restrain movement of said ValvememberY relative to theremainder of saidtool. to thus effect opening and closing of said valve.

4. A` iuid control tool fora well casinggcomprising: a pair of tubularmandrelsra valve body including .a housing disposed between andconnected with said mandrels and having ,a-k valve passage; a valve seatintermediate theY endsof said valve'k passage; a valve member cooperablewith said valve seat adapted to open and close: said valve passage;means for moving said valve member relative to said val-Ve seat; packerson the-respective mandrelsecooperable withv aI welli casing to provide aspace forming an annular chamber therebetween surrounding said valve.housing; means insaid tool establishing communication between theinterior of one of saidmandrelsvandsaid Valvepassrage` on one sidel ofsaid valve seat and the exterior oisaid one mandrel at the side of thepacker thereon remote from saidannular chamber; the other of saidmandrels *having a passage opening .into rand in direct communicationwith said annular chamber; av by-pass duct in said other mandrel incommunication with said valve passage on said one side of said valveseat and also communicating, with the exterior of said other mandrel attheside of the-packer thereon remote from said an-A nular chamber, saidvalve housing having a port ,establishing communication between saidvalve Y passage and said annular. chamber on the-side of4 said valveseat remote from said by-Dass duct; valve means controllingIcommunication bet-Weenvv the interior and the exterior ofv said onemandrel; and means for actuating said Valve means including a memberlocated exteriorly of said tool andy adapted to frictionally engage withthe interior of the well casing, said last-mentioned means beingoperative;` when relative movement,

is instituted between the-tool and the oasnato eiect opening and closingoisad valve means.

5.. AV fluidcontroltool fora wellv casing, Y,Comprising.: an uppertubular mandrel anda lower tubular mandrel; a valve body including anous.

ing disposed between andv connected with-saidwell .casing to provideaspace-forming. an annu-f lar chamber therebetween'surroundingsaidsvalve. housing; meanslinrsaid tool establishing;commu-y nicationbetween the interiorv of said lowezfnian'.-.v

drelY and the portion of said valvepassagelabov saidwalve seat: and with.the exterioroffsaid: lowermandrel atl :the side of the packer thereon yremotefrom said annular chamber, said upperimandrel' having a passageopening into and'in direct communication with said, annular chamber;and'y ay by-pass duct in. said upper. mandrel having its lower'endincommunication withsaid valvepas'- sageV and also communicating with.the exterior of said upper mandrel at the side of. the-packer thereonremote fromsaid. annular chamber, saidY valve housing having a portestablis'hing'commu-V nication between said valve passage andsaid-fannularchamber, on the lower side ofi saidvalve;

-' seat.

6. A fluid control tool.y for a well casing, lconiprising; an uppertubular mandrell anda lowertubular mandrel; a valve housing disposedbetween and connected with. said. mandrelsv and having a passageway`therethrough communicating'at its lower end withthe interiorfofsaidvlow er mandrel, said valve housing also having avalvev passagecommunicating .with the upper end: of said passageway.; a Valve seat insaid valvepassage intermediatey its ends; a valve member in said' valvepassage movablei-nto sealing engagement with said valve seat; valve stemmeans directly connected with saidvalve member including an elementextending to a location exteriorl'y of said tool and adapted tovfrictionallyv Aengage with the interior of a wellcaslng to hold saidvalve member while said tool'isbeingfmoved in one direction relative tosaid well casing;

packers on 'the respective mandrelsr cooperable with-said well casingtoprovide* a space forming an annular-chamber surrounding said valvehousing; said uppermandrel having a; passage closed against directcommunication with said' 'valrve housing but opening into saidchamber; aby-pass` Y 1 duet' 1n said upper mandrel incommunication with bothsaid-'passageway and saidj valve passage of said housing and with theexterior of said upper mandrel on therside of the packer thereon'remote-from said valve seat, saidV valve housing having a portestablishingcommunica tion between saidvalve passage and said cham*V beron theV side of said valve seat remote. from saidl lov-pass duct; meansproviding a. passage from the interior otsaid lower,v mandrel to theexterior of saidY lower mandrelLon the side of the packer thereon'remote .from saidchamber; valve means controlling now throughsaidlast-A mentionedV passage, said valve means includingA Y a valve memberactuatable to open and closedl positions by movementoif the toolrelativethereto,y

in a direction different fromthat required to aotuate saidfirst-mentionedV valve member; and

means for` optionally connecting; said element with saidsecond-mentioned valve member .tovrhold` the, saine while said y,tool isbeing movedin .said different direction, whereby said valve members canbe selectivelyiiactuated to,r open and closed; positions uponlpredetermined movements of thetool withr-espect tothe wellcasillg. Y

' 7. A-.tool 'as-defined inuclaim 6, in-whioh the valve stem meansincludes two stem sections, onev connected with the iirstementlonedvalves member ,and the other with the elementoi the valve stem meansthat frintimi-allyf` engages. the well casingiand means providing a.lostmotion Vcon.v

nectiionbetween said-stem sections.

8. A rto'olas dened'inclaim ,6, in which the valvefmember that. is.directlyconnected with-'ther` valve stem meansy isnormally maintained"sta'- tionary relative to the well casing by the element of the valvestem means which frictionally en gages the casing and assumes an open orclosed position upon up or down movement of the tool relative to thewell casing; and in which the valve member that is optionallyconnectable with the element of the valve stem means which frictionallyengages the casing is threadedly mounted on the tool and is moved fromopen to closed position and vice versa while restrained against rotationrelative to said tool by said element when said tool is rotated inopposite directions relative to the well casing.

9. A fluid control tool for a well casing, comprising: an upper tubularmandrel and a lower tubular mandrel; a housing disposed between andconnected with said mandrels; a valve structure in said housing having avalve passage; a valve seat in said valve passage between the endsthereof; a valve member cooperable with said seat to open and close saidvalve passage; means for moving said valve member relative to said valveseat; packers on the respective mandrels cooperable with a well casingto provide a space forming an annular chamber surrounding said valvehousing; port means in said valve structure establishing communicationbetween said chamber and said valve passage in a region below i saidvalve seat, said upper mandrel having a pas- Sage closed against directcommunication with said valve housing but opening into said chamber; abypass duct in said upper mandrel in communication with the upper end ofsaid Valve passage and with the exterior of said upper mandrel on theside of the packer thereon remote from said valve seat, said housinghaving a passageway lay-passing said valve member and establishingcommunication between said by-pass duct and the interior of said lowermandrel; means providing a passage from the interior Aof said lowermandrel to the exterior of said lower mandrel on the side of the packerthereon remote from said chamber; valve means controlling ilow throughsaid last-mentioned passage; and means for operating said valve means tocontrol said flow.

EVERETT J. GRAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

